Compressor.



W. H. MILLER.

COMPRESSOR.-

APPLIOATIOI? FILED JUNE 2, 1909.

936,143. Patented 0ct.5,1909.

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WILLIAM H. MILLER, OF INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI.

COMPRESSOR.

Application filed. June 2, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TVILLIAM H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Independence, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to compressors, and has for an object to provide a compressor particularly desirable for use in connection with barrels in which sauerkraut 01' the like is contained and to adjustably mount the said compressor within the barrel so that it can be operated in such manner as will hold the kraut submerged in the brine or other preserving substance.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better set forth, and it will be understood that changes within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views :-Figure 1 is a detail section through a portion of a barrel showing the application of my compressor thereto. Fig. 2 is a. top plan view of the compressor. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the compressor. Fig. 4: is a detail vertical section taken on the line l-1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a barrel A in which is mounted a follower head B which is preferably provided with a pair of spaced cleats C. My improved compressor is removably mounted within the barrel and consists of a member 1 in which is formed a longitudinally extending slot 2. The member 1 is rabbeted longitudinally upon its under side as shown at 3 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The member 1 is provided at the sides of the slot 2 with a pair of guides 41 which are disposed within grooves 5 formed upon the underside of a member 6. The member 6 is similar in construction to the member 1 and is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 7 adapted to aline with the slot 2 in the member 1. A vertically disposed bolt or similar fastening device is shown at 8 and is disposed in portions of the slots 2 and 7 formed in the members 1 and 6. The lower end of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 5, 1909.

Serial No. 499,763.

the bolt is provided with a head of usual form against which is seated a washer 9. The washer 9 is adapted to span the slot 2 formed in the member 1 and is slidably mounted in the rabbeted portion 3. The upper threaded end of the bolt is passed through an aperture 10 formed in the member 11 of a clamp 12. The member 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending depending guide rib 13 which is slidably ar ranged in the slot 7 formed in the member (3. The member 11 is provided with an inclined cam face 14: adapted for cooperation with a similar face formed upon the under side of a cam lever 15. The cam lever forms with the member 11 the clamp and is provided with apassage for receiving the upper extremity of the bolt 8. The construction of the clamp just described is such that when the members 1 and (5 have been properly adjusted with respect to each other they can be effectively held against sliding movement.

The member 1 is provided at one of its ends with a plurality of outwardly extending spurs 16. The member (5 is provided at one end with a casing 17 having an open outer end portion 18. A spur or bolt 19 is slidably mounted in the casing 17. The said bolt or spur is provided with a pointed outer end portion 20 which is adapted to be extended beyond the open outer end portion 18 of the casing 17 so that it will cooperate with the spurs 16 in order that the compressor can be effectively held in engagement with the walls of the barrel A. The spur or bolt 19 is provided with a slot or cutaway portion 21 which is located in line with a slot 22 formed in one of the side walls of the casing 17. The member 16 is provided with a pivotally mounted lever 23 which has a pointed outer end portion 2% adapted to extend through the passage 22 formed in the casing 17 in order that its outer extremity or pointed outer end portion 24: can be engaged with one of the walls of the slot 21 formed in the spur or bolt. Upon actuating the lever 23 it will be readily understood that the bolt or spur can be ejected or moved so as to be entirely housed within the casing 17 In operation, assuming the barrel to contain a quantity of sauerkraut or similar material that should be kept under brine, the follower head B is first inserted within the barrel to rest upon the upper surface of the contents of the said barrel. After this operation my improved compressor is inserted within the barrel and is disposed therein so that the member 1 lies upon the cleats C. After the follower B has been moved downwardly with the desired pressure, the members 1 and 6 of the device herein disclosed are moved outwardly and away from each other so that the spurs 16 and 19 can be effectively held engaged with the walls of the barrel to hold the compressor in its adjusted position.

I "claim:

1. In a compressor of the class described, an adjustable follower, slidable members mounted upon said follower, fixed barrelengaging spurs at one end of one of the members, and a movable barrel-engaging spur at one end of the other member, said last named spur being adapted for cooperation with the said first named spurs to hold the follower in its adjusted position.

2. In a compressor of the class described, an adjustable follower, slidable members mounted upon said follower and provided with longitudinally extending alining slots, fixed spurs upon one of the said members, a movable spur upon the other member, a bolt extending through said slots, and operatively connected cam members engaged with said bolt and adapted for operation to hold the first named members in their adjusted positions' 3. In a compressor of the class described, a pair of superimposed slidable members, one of said members having a pair of longitudinally extending spaced grooves, the other member having a pair of guides operating in said grooves, means for holding the members against sliding movement, fixed barrel-engaging spurs upon one of the members, and a movable barrel-engaging spur upon the other member.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. MILLER. 

